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And ladies, thank you for your help. Originally I was simply going to replace my Trane XE800 outdoor unit that died, but based on everyone's advice I've decided to replace the whole heat pump system. Here's what I'm getting:

And I'm having a reputable HVAC contractor that I trust install the new system.

The only thing I need to decide on is the thermostat. I have to begin by saying I love toys. That's why I'm considering a Honeywell VisionPro programable thermostat. However, I'm a little confused. Honeywell apprarenty has several VisionPro models. Here are the ones I found (TH8110, TH8320, TH8321)

Which one is best suited for my Xl14i setup given its features?

I'm also starting to wonder about that Aprilaire 550. Should I upgrade to a better, automatic model? If so, which one?

Originally posted by karsthuntr The TH8320 and Th8321 are heat pump stat's. They are exactly the same but the TH8321 has a dehumdifaction mode and has a humidity read-out on the stat.

Okay, thanks. Do I need any other external parts or does the VisionPro come with everything? Also, any commnets on the Aprilaire 500? I noticed that it's a manual operation. Should I upgrade to something automatic?

The only real option is the remote outdoor temp sensor for the t-stat. I have one on mine and love it, I just look at the stat and see the outdoor temp. Very cool feature. The instuctions say mount the sensor under the eave of the house. I always mount them in the OU, As long as the fan is running on the OU it will read true outdoor temp.

The TH8110 will work on a heat pump that has no auxiliary heat strips installed. When I ran service in San Diego, heat pumps with no backup heat were common along the coast. Move inland and more heat strips showed up.

The numbers following the "8" in the VisionPro model number indicate stages and whether the stat has humidity control. So a TH8321 is a three stage heat, two stage cool with humidity control. The TH8320 is the same stat sans humidity control. The TH8110 is a single stage heat, single stage cool with no humidity control.

All three stats offer auto changeover, four setback periods, Adaptive Intelligent Recovery, optional remote outdoor sensor (acts only as an outdoor thermometer unless enabled for a heat pump to lockout compressor below balance point on electric backup or to lockout compressor on second stage for fossil fuel backup), and optional remote indoor sensor, which disables the onboard temperature sensor, allowing the thermostat to be located in a room other than the one being controlled.
Multiple indoor sensors can be installed, which then would be averaged to determine the overall temperature between the rooms being sensed. How useful this feature is I can't say, as I haven't seen it in action, yet.

Electricity makes refrigeration happen.

Refrigeration makes the HVAC psychrometric process happen.

HVAC pyschrometrics is what makes indoor human comfort happen...IF the ducts AND the building envelope cooperate.

Great decision for the vision pro but I would make 2 sugestions with it. Get the optional outdor sensor and that way you can have the thermostat control the change over from heat pump to electric heat back up. Letting a unit decide IMO is not all that great. Calla control freak I guess.

Also get the TH8321 with humidity control. Humidity can be a major driving comfort factor in how you feel. With the TH8321 it gives you the ability to see if you can feel comfortable at a warmer temperature by ringing out the moisture in the air. Carrier and Lennox both have thermostats that dry the air out and I wish Trane did but the Vision Pro is a nice substitute.

I also sell honeywell but I would recommend the filter you are looking at. High filtration capability and the benefits of an EAC with out all the popping and snapping and cleaning.

Great choices. Only thing I think you may be a tad more happier with would have been the 16i with 2 stage capability but what you have picked will also be a nice pick up as well.

Let us know how you like it and take pictures of before and after install.

Originally posted by swat Great choices. Only thing I think you may be a tad more happier with would have been the 16i with 2 stage capability but what you have picked will also be a nice pick up as well.

Rats! I thought the XLi14 was a 2 stage system. It's not too late to change my mind. Percentage wise, about how much more is the XLi16 over the XLi14?

I've got a VisionPro 8321 with the humidity sensor, and the instructions say it will run the air conditioner up to 3 degrees cooler than what you set it at in an attempt to get the humidity to your desired setting.

It says it trys to balance out your desired humidity level with your desired temperature setpoint in determining how far below(up to 3 degrees farenheight I assume) the temperature setpoint to run the a/c.

I like my VisionPro, but I do wonder if one of those top of the line Carrier themostats have even more bells and whistles!

Randall

p.s. Get the optional outdoor temperature sensor for the VisionPro too.

Zero experience with the Yorks so I got no comment on them. When you do take and try to maintain humidity it should take and balance out and make you more comfortable at a warmer temp so your set points should be raised. Like one customer I have I tell them set your thermostat for what you are comfortable for not what you stat says or recommends. After putting in my VP I was able to program it and walk away. No more running by it and adjusting it like a differnt stat I had installed already.

Trane is having a "recall" of somesort, with the XLi16.
I heard a field rep.( with Lyon, Conklin - Trane Dist.
in your area and also ours @ St.Michaels) mention this
but not sure what the problem might be. American Standard/Trane jointly with Copeland have designed a new
dual capacity scroll compressor.....this will a great compressor but may have early model problems.